Splash pads are the height of easy, free summer fun. They’re typically water play areas in a park and near a playground, and they offer parents a way to supervise their kids having fun while being safe. (Don’t forget your sunscreen and bring your own towels and chairs!) There are over 100 splash pads in Toronto — you can see the city’s full list here — open for the 2024 season from May 17 to September 15,  dawn to dusk (9:00am-8:30pm). Check out our favourites on our Guide to the Best City-Run Splash Pads in Toronto…

(Click on the link title for more information)

Alexandra Park — CLOSED FOR 2024 DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
Where: 275 Bathurst Street (at Dundas Street West)
Tucked away near Kensington Market, forget about the downtown hustle and bustle in this splash pad with a nautical vibe.

Barbara Hall Park
Where: 519 Church Street (north of Wellesley St. East)
Along the busy Church Street corridor, this cozy park next to the popular 519 Community Centre lets you sneak away for a break with a fenced-in splash pad and modern playground.

Corktown Common
Where: 155 Bayview Avenue (south of King Street East)
This 18-acre urban park includes a rubber splash pad, sculptural rock features, a cool sand park and a gorgeous view of downtown. Be sure to check out one of Toronto’s hidden gems nearby, Underpass Park.

Sherbourne Common (Start delayed due to Maintenance/Repairs)
Where: 5 Lower Sherbourne Street (south of Queens Quay East)
An outdoor skating rink doubles as a fountain-style splash pad with plenty of room to run around. Afterwards, enjoy a stroll along the lake or stop by the modern playground

Sugar Beach Park
Where: 11 Dockside Drive (south of Queens Quay East)
This man-made beach by the lake and beside its neighbour Redpath Sugar (hence the name) has a water fountain embedded in a granite maple leaf. Hide from the sun on Muskoka chairs under adorable and selfie-worthy pink umbrellas.

Toronto Island Park
Where: Centre Island (Take the ferry from Queens Quay and Harbour Square. More information about the Toronto Islands here)
Right smack in the middle of all the Centre Island amenities – beaches, bike rentals, walking paths, boating and fishing areas, Franklin Children’s Garden – lies a nature-themed splash pad. It’s especially handy when it’s hot but the Lake Ontario beach water is too cold or has an algae bloom.

Gledhill Park
Where: 125 Gledhill Ave. (north of Danforth Ave.)
A favourite for families with small children, this small park has a fenced-in play area and park benches where parents can watch their kids enjoy the flower-themed splash pad.

Greenwood Park
Where: 150 Greenwood Avenue (south of Gerrard Ave. East)
Sandwiched between an outdoor pool, playground, outdoor exercising area and covered rink (available for roller skating or ball hockey), is a small but busy splash pad.

Stan Wadlow Park
Where: 888 Cosburn Avenue (near Woodbine Ave.)
Along with a splash pad, this large East York park features an outdoor pool, skateboard park, off-leash dog park and baseball diamond.

Woodbine Park
Where: 1695 Queen Street East (between Queen St. East and Lake Shore East)
Across the street from the expansive Woodbine Beach, a wetland-themed splash pad and playground fits in perfectly with a real pond (home to ducks, geese and swans) and downtown views in the background.

Cedarvale Park
Where: 443 Arlington Ave. (west of Bathurst St.)
Listed in our guide to the best family parks, Cedarvale also has a barrier-free splash pad in a wide open space, which is great for kids to run around in.

Earlscourt Park
Where: 1200 Lansdowne Ave. (at St. Clair Ave. West)
This west-end neighbourhood park includes a fun splash pad with imbedded small boulders to jump off and spray towers of varying heights.

High Park
Where: 1873 Bloor Street West
High Park has everything you can think of and some things you wouldn’t expect, like an outdoor theatre, a restaurant and a free volunteer-run zoo! Amongst all this beauty is a cute brightly-coloured splash pad beside a playground with tipping buckets and various spray jets.

MacGregor Playground
Where: 356 Lansdowne Road (north of College Street)
This neighbourhood park’s splash pad has some fun obstacles in a wide area, like spilling buckets and hoops to run through.

Wychwood Barns Park
Where: 76 Wychwood Avenue (off Christie Street south of St. Clair Ave. West)
Let the kids run through the splash pad as a reward after you pick up a few fresh items at the Saturday Farmers’ Market. This park also features include a children’s playground (with improvements in the works!), an open sports field, an off-leash dog area, a beach volleyball court and picnic tables.

Earl Bales Park
Where: 4169 Bathurst Street (at Bathurst & Sheppard)
This large park is packed with facilities: two playgrounds and a frog-themed splash pad, a sensory garden, bike trails, an outdoor amphitheatre and an off-leash dog park. There’s even a ski hill for our daydreams of cooler weather.

Hendon Park
Where: 50 Hendon Avenue (near Yonge and Finch Streets)
This splash pad has tons of fountain-style jets under tall faux palm trees. There’s also lots of room around it to hang out under a real tree and have a picnic.

June Rowlands Park
Where: 220 Davisville Avenue (at Mount Pleasant Road)
In a Midtown park featuring a playground named Canadian musical icons Sharon, Lois and Bram, this splash pad has jets coming at you from all different directions.

Moorevale Park
Where: 175 Moore Avenue (east of Mount Pleasant Road)
Near the beautiful Moore Park Ravine and Beltline Trail (as seen in our hiking list!), this is a nicely shaded park with modern facilities and amenities, including an inviting splash pad and playground combo.

Oriole Park
Where: 201 Oriole Parkway (at Chaplin Crescent)
Nestled under the trees, this park has a playground and splash pad combo with water fountains in the shape of frogs. There is also a wading pool, clubhouse, baseball diamond, tennis courts, sand pit and open space play areas.

Pottery Playground
Where: 601 Merton Road, Toronto (between Mount Pleasant & Bayview)
This tiny park, hidden on the north end of Mount Pleasant Cemetery, manages to squeeze in an adorable wetlands-themed splash pad with coordinated playground.

Sherwood Park
Where: 190 Sherwood Avenue (near Eglinton and Bayview Aves.)
With a secluded splash pad and wading pool, this park is a serene spot, even despite the gleeful shrieks of the kids enjoying the tall spray features.

Kidstown — CLOSED FOR 2024 DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
Where: 3159 Birchmount Road (at McNicoll Ave.)
Located in the expansive L’Amoreaux Park, this is the crowning jewel of the City-run splash pads. It’s more of a water park, with a variety of water features, including a tipping bucket, spray rings, squirting aquatic animals, a slide, wading pool and more. The surrounding fenced-in area has plenty of picnic tables so you can bring some food along and make a day of it. Reservations recommended.

Thomson Memorial Park
Where: 1005 Brimley Road (at Lawrence Ave. East)
In a large wooded park, a woodland-themed splash pad fits in with the surroundings. There’s also an off-leash dog park, playground and the Scarborough Museum nearby.

Amos Waite Park
Where: 2441 Lake Shore Blvd. West
This lakefront park in South Etobicoke features a pirate-themed splash pad and playground, an outdoor pool and waterfront paths.

Marie Curtis Park
Where: 2 Forty Second Street (South of Lake Shore West)
This is a beautiful lakefront park in Etobicoke. Along with a garden-themed spray pad, it includes a playground, wading pool, public swimming beach and picnic spots. Further along, there is an off-leash dog park and walking trails including a connection to the Waterfront Trail.

Save some money with our list of Cheapies & Freebies in Toronto and the GTA here!